LINEAR

EQUATION IN
TWO
VARIABLES

BY CHRISTOPHER
SELVARAJ

System of equations or
simultaneous equations
A pair of linear equations in two
variables is said to form a system of
simultaneous linear equations.
For Example, 2x 3y + 4 = 0
x + 7y 1 = 0
Form a system of two linear equations
in variables x and y.

The general form of a linear equation in

two variables x and y is
ax + by + c = 0 , a =/= 0, b=/=0, where
a, b and c being real numbers.
A solution of such an equation is a pair of
values, one for x and the other for y, which
makes two sides of the equation equal.

Every linear equation in two variables has

infinitely many solutions which can be
represented on a certain line.

GRAPHICAL SOLUTIONS OF A
LINEAR EQUATION
Let us consider the following system of
two simultaneous linear equations in two
variable.
2x y = -1
3x + 2y = 9
Here we assign any value to one of the two
variables and then determine the value of
the other variable from the given equation.

For the equation

2x y = -1 ---(1)
2x +1 = y
Y = 2x + 1
3x + 2y = 9 --- (2)
2y = 9 3x
9- 3x
Y = ------2

-1

(-1,6)

(2,5)

(0,3)

(0,1)

X
Y

X= 1
Y=3

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ALGEBRAIC METHODS OF
SOLVING SIMULTANEOUS
LINEAR EQUATIONS
The most commonly used algebraic
methods of solving simultaneous linear
equations in two variables are
Method of elimination by substitution
Method of elimination by equating the
coefficient
Method of Cross- multiplication

ELIMINATION BY SUBSTITUTION
STEPS
Obtain the two equations. Let the equations be
a1x + b1y + c1 = 0 ----------- (i)
a2x + b2y + c2 = 0 ----------- (ii)
Choose either of the two equations, say (i) and
find the value of one variable , say y in terms
of x
Substitute the value of y, obtained in the
previous step in equation (ii) to get an equation
in x

ELIMINATION BY SUBSTITUTION
Solve the equation obtained in the
previous step to get the value of x.
Substitute the value of x and get the
value of y.
Let us take an example
x + 2y = -1 ------------------ (i)
2x 3y = 12 -----------------(ii)

SUBSTITUTION METHOD
x + 2y = -1
x = -2y -1 ------- (iii)
Substituting the value of x in equation
(ii), we get
2x 3y = 12
2 ( -2y 1) 3y = 12
- 4y 2 3y = 12
- 7y = 14 , y = -2 ,

SUBSTITUTION
Putting the value of y in eq (iii), we get
x = - 2y -1
x = - 2 x (-2) 1
=41
=3
Hence the solution of the equation is
( 3, - 2 )

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ELIMINATION METHOD
In this method, we eliminate one of the
two variables to obtain an equation in one
variable which can easily be solved.
Putting the value of this variable in any of
the given equations, the value of the other
variable can be obtained.
For example: we want to solve,
3x + 2y = 11
2x + 3y = 4

Let 3x + 2y = 11 --------- (i)

2x + 3y = 4 ---------(ii)
Multiply 3 in equation (i) and 2 in equation (ii) and
subtracting eq iv from iii, we get
9x + 6y = 33 ------ (iii)
4x + 6y = 8 ------- (iv)
5x
= 25
=> x = 5

putting the value of y in equation (ii) we get,

2x + 3y = 4
2 x 5 + 3y = 4
10 + 3y = 4
3y = 4 10
3y = - 6
y=-2
Hence, x = 5 and y = -2

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